50 replies to this topic

[flywing1]

As part of package donation to our local astronomy club, we received this Meade 440 blue tube 102mm F10 OTA, does anyone know whether it's a Towa or Mizar?

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[CHASLX200]

Not sure who made it. I had a 310 i think and it was super sharp.

[Bomber Bob]

MIZAR... and, an uncommon size (most are 80mm & 60mm).

 

Congrats!  Should be a very good refractor.

[cookjaiii]

Check the inside of the focus wheels.  Is there an initial there?  My Mizar has a letter, "M".

[rob1986]

The focuser looks synta to me. I think someone replaced it for some reason.

Classic mizar focusers were a serirs od cylindrical sections, not fulstrum shaped.

The finder quick release should be a give away.

Edited by rob1986, 24 March 2024 - 04:59 PM.

[CHASLX200]

I don't even remember that scope by Meade.

[Bomber Bob]

MIZAR lens cell; but, Mizar starting sourcing scopes from DK in the late 1980s -- still made in Japan, though.

 

IIRC, Mizar started sourcing from Taiwan (LSI?) in the 1990s -- ditto for Kenko -- before both companies switched to SYNTA about 20 years ago.

 

Looks like an Antares Finder...

[Bomber Bob]

I don't even remember that scope by Meade.

Me, either.  But I was neck-deep learning to fly the C-130 during the early 1990s, so I missed-out on a lot of new stuff hitting the market back then...  Shoot!!  That was 30 years ago!!!

 

The focuser looks synta to me. I think someone replaced it for some reason.

 

Probably to get Big 2" accessories for it.  My GT-80S came with a 1.25" focuser -- yet it's a Fast F7...  But yeah, Mizar focusers are fancier than this one.  Would've liked to have seen the original R&P (helps nail down age)...

 

Finder Brackets are Mizar, too.

Edited by Bomber Bob, 24 March 2024 - 05:18 PM.

[rob1986]

If celestron had one, how could meade not?

Edited by rob1986, 24 March 2024 - 05:19 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

True.  This 440 is RARE -- never seen one on ZEN, not even from the Mister Mizar (sells a ton of their stuff)...

[MisterDan]

Here's an ad from a few months ago, posted in Italy:

https://www.astrosel...o.php?Id=178661

 

Nice original 440/GEM package.  I "barely" remember seeing the package in an ad or two, way back when...  I think...    The mount head rings a slightly bigger bell in my head than does the refractor, itself.

 

Cheers and best wishes.

Dan

Edited by MisterDan, 24 March 2024 - 05:46 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Here's an ad from a few months ago, posted in Italy:

https://www.astrosel...o.php?Id=178661

 

Nice original 440/GEM package.  I "barely" remember seeing the package in an ad or two, way back when...  I think...    The mount head rings a slightly bigger bell in my head than does the refractor, itself.

 

Cheers and best wishes.

Dan

Looks like the same mount Meade used on the GEM SCT back in 1987.

[MisterDan]

Ha!  That may very well be the image that's "lingering" in my memory - that first Meade GEM SCT.

 

Thanks for the extra "clang"!

 

Cheers

Dan

[CHASLX200]

Ha!  That may very well be the image that's "lingering" in my memory - that first Meade GEM SCT.

 

Thanks for the extra "clang"!

 

Cheers

Dan

It was a Meade flop that never sold well.  It was to compete with the SP -C8.

[flywing1]

Ha!  That may very well be the image that's "lingering" in my memory - that first Meade GEM SCT.

 

Thanks for the extra "clang"!

 

Cheers

Dan

It's a Mizar RV 85 mount rebranded as Meade 2080, and I can confirm the same mount came with the blue OTA we received. The focuser really confused me initially, now it makes sense that it's not original as the Italian ad showed.  Glad we have this rare OTA for our club.  Really appreciate all the inputs, thanks!

[CHASLX200]

It's a Mizar RV 85 mount rebranded as Meade 2080, and I can confirm the same mount came with the blue OTA we received. The focuser really confused me initially, now it makes sense that it's not original as the Italian ad showed.  Glad we have this rare OTA for our club.  Really appreciate all the inputs, thanks!

Same finder and rings i had on my 310 i got new in 1986.

[rob1986]

Looks like soneone wanted 1.25" EPs

[MisterDan]

It was a Meade flop that never sold well.  It was to compete with the SP -C8.

According to Uncle Rod, the 2080 GEM was introduced first.  Celestron responded with the SP C8 (and ended the argument rather quickly).

 

Cheers.

Dan

[CHASLX200]

According to Uncle Rod, the 2080 GEM was introduced first.  Celestron responded with the SP C8 (and ended the argument rather quickly).

 

Cheers.

Dan

I sure don't remember that. The SP C8 came out in 1984 and the GEM was around 87 if you look in SKY& Tele ads.

[ChenZhenFromJingWu]

I didn't know this scope was real!

I have a 320 that'll be the last scope I'll ever let go of.

It outshines my 102ed on certain targets. Like others have said. The finder attached to the tube usually means it's a mizar. But looks like an aftermarket focuser.

I also have a 323 that's made by towa. Doesn't come close to the mizar.

A meade blue tube 102mm, mizar...

I have questions. Has anyone ever looked through one of these? Is the image quality comparable to the 80mm? Are these attainable in the wild?

[marcyc]

I hopefully won the club's auction for this scope (the one Flywing posted about) and will know for sure tomorrow. If so, I'm real excited and would like to pick your all's brains some more.

So, do we know what parts of this are Mizar and what parts are something else? I know we've determined that the focuser is aftermarket, but is the lens also (BB indicated that the cell was Mizar but the glass was questionable). Also, do we know if the tripod is original? Any thoughts or insights would be welcome as I await the final auction results with bated breath!

[Bomber Bob]

Good Luck!!

 

It's a MIZAR with a 2" Synta focuser.  IF it's like their other Meade blue-tube imports, the optics should be excellent.

[Dave Novoselsky]

MIZAR... and, an uncommon size (most are 80mm & 60mm).

 

Congrats!  Should be a very good refractor.

Agree and VERY uncommon!

[marcyc]

Picked this up last night. Haven't had a chance to set it up yet, but it looks to be in pretty good condition. A small spot somewhere on an interior surface of the objective that may or may not be mold, but I can't imagine it not cleaning up nicely. The moto-focus works! I'm probably more excited about that than I should be. Will set it up, test the drive, and take pictures this weekend and will report back. I'm anxious to get it out under the stars but we'll see if the weather holds.

[Terra Nova]

Congrats. It will be interesting to see how it measures up to your Celestron/Vixen C102.